I'm not a huge fan of fruit leathers, but this turned out super good! And, really, you can't go wrong with blackberries, mint and rum.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Going green for St. Patrick's Day

It's time for my annual St. Patrick's Day green post!

Traditionally, people all over the U.S. like to have a green St. Patty's Day. But, in contrast to the tradition, which must be the result of someone's fervent love of the shades of shamrock, I'm wishing you all an environmentally green holiday.

2. I don't advocate adding green food coloring to anything, no matter how much you want to have it fit the "theme". If you must color it, make sure you choose a product that is "natural", using vegetable and plant extracts only.

3. Choose an organic or natural corned beef. This may be hard to come by, depending on where you live, but check with your local natural foods market or a Whole Foods. The search is definitely worth it.

4. Make sure your spuds are green. No, not the green potatoes with toxins. But those grown sustainably with no chemicals. Your liver will thank you.

5. Make your own Irish Soda Bread. It's pretty damn simple and oooooh, so much better than what you can buy in the stores. Unless you live in Brooklyn. Don't forget to make your own butter.

6. Get your head on straight and buy organic cabbage. Even if you believe the argument that eating organic cabbage isn't as important as choosing organic for the dirty dozen, it's the agricultural practices and their problems that you need to consider, not just how contaminated the food is with pesticides.

7. Speaking of head, don't forget the beer. I have to admit I'm not a big beer fan, but I do like me some Guinness. Look for a local brewery who does an organic beer.

8. Make sure you don't use disposable dishes, glassware, silverware or napkins. If you don't have enough, ask your guests to bring some to the party.

9. Try a St. Patty's Day fun run or walk if there's one in your area and it's not too late to enter. How is this green? Well, maybe the extra exercise will inspire you to eat less for dinner. The result is you'll have more leftovers to reduce your food impact later in the week. Also, you'll not only burn off a little of the excess corned beef if you do go overboard, but you'll be just a tad healthier for it.

10. Enjoy the time you have with friends and family, enjoying great food and company. What could be more green friendly than that?

I never do anything like green food (or toilet water). And quite frankly I hate the way a Feast day has been turned into a commercial holiday.

I am Irish and do celebrate St. Patrick's day, but not in the way most do. I do wear green, mind you I do it knowing full well it's a political statement. And I have attended Mass on that day as it's a religous holiday.

I just can't stand non-Catholics and non-Irish individuals using it as an excuse to go on a drinking binge. It perpetuates a stereotype and is disrespectful to those who wish to keep it a religous day.

Not that some Irish don't use it as an excuse to drink. But where I come from they know the significance of dying said drink green.

Whenever hosting guests (more than you have real dishes for) ask them to bring a picnic blanket and basket of reuseable dishes (no disposables). Then when everyone gets there, layer the picnic blankets over the table - or lay them out on the floor if you have room, and enjoy.My DD's church has been doing this for some time (asking people to bring their own dishes) and more than half bring reuseable dishes, now just to get the others to bring reuseable instead of disposable.

It was explained to me recently after I'd been asked about my St. Patrick's Day plans and I responded, "I'm neither Catholic, nor Irish," that this is a drinking day. I find that utterly bizarre since I'm sure there are some Irish Catholics out there who are likely offended by the commercialisation (at least on the part of beer companies) of a religious holiday.